Confidence boosting

 Ahhh I needed that. Today we had a lesson with Jacel in the stadium arena. She wore her scoot boots and I didn't give her any bute. She started a bit sore but worked through it. Although she did lose a boot in the XC field again. Doh! 

Anyways... I explained what had been going on and how our XC lesson was a disaster. So we started with cross rails and it wasn't great. DO NOT GET FORWARD HOLLY!!! Gah...  especially when she's wiggly.. that makes it worse. Sit back and drive from behind ultimately. sit up and close my leg and ride the hocks. Stop trying to steer her face... and send her forward and straight. duh...  I'm making it way harder on her. Of course her wigglies are not helping me. But, once I did it, it worked. And she got way less wiggly. And she didn't refuse anything. It was just awkward and sloppy and there was a lot of hesitation/pausing at the base of the jumps. But once I got brave and sat back and up and was strong in my core, I could send her, and then she didn't have to hesitate. 

So then Jacel set up an oxer. Oh boy! It was wide! It was small though. I actually sat up to it and rode forward and straight until the last stride or two then I softened too much. I feel like if I don't soften the reins to her, she feels held back. But instead of just softening my hands, I threw my upper body at her too. And so she said no. Then she said no again and again. Then Jacel and I talked about how I had to sit up and ride and not let her get away with it. If she was afraid, fine... but she's not. There was no anxiety. The first time.. fair enough. But the second time she didn't even try. So I came again and got tough and she was fine and jumped it. And even had fun. We did it three more times and even came off a tight turn and she did it like a pro. I just have to give her the confidence to do it and then she realizes that she likes it and it's fun! As do I. ;) 

Set my standards higher. If I'm of the mindset that she is leaning and falling and cantering like a 3 year old because that's all she can do... then I keep letting her do that and she thinks she's doing it right. If I expect her to canter on all fours and balanced like a 4 year old can and set her up for it... she can do it and it gives her confidence. She's ready... just set her up. If she fumbles, fine... it's a learning curve. She doesn't have to be perfect but set her up to allow her to be perfect. 

So then we did the oxer to the vertical and she was so brave. And she was having fun. And when she's forward and straight I can sit up better and not end up on her neck. And she jumps cute! And is so proud of herself. And I'm proud of myself because I can feel effective instead of like a ping pong ball up there. 

So then Jacel was going to have me do a short course and I mentioned wanting to go to XC so I could get it out of my head. I KNEW what Jacel said was correct and it would translate but I needed to do it for me. So we did. I thought we'd start with the green cabin since she's jumped that repeatedly and then picked the brown roll top right at the edge of the lake. Ha ha... and regretted it instantly. That rolltop was like... at least starter if not BN, but.. oh well. (Spoiled alert.. in retrospect, I think it was starter). 

We started for the green cabin, heading... towards the uphill bucking bronco area and.. I think I panicked. She got wiggly... i got tipped. we had a stop.. then another... then I circled and jumped it backwards and she was fine and then we got going. So after doing it two or three times...  Jacel asked if I was going to do the rolltop. I almost said no. But... I didn't. And I rode... I rode hard. And she jumped it first try!!! And then again a second time! And then we quit. Yay! 

So yep. We both got a bit more confident today. I have to give ourselves confidence by setting ourselves up and upping our standards. It's not just her... it's not just me. It's both of us.